Loading machine



1944- .1. L. CLARKSON ET AL 2,333,704

LOADING MACHINE Filed Oct. 6, 1941 3 Sheets$heet l T/ /E/ ATTORNEYSPatented Jan. 11, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOADING MACHINE JohnL. Clarkson and Allton B. Jackson, Nashville, Ill., assignors toClarkson Manufacturing Company, Nashville, 11]., a corporation ofIllinois Application October 6, 1941 Serial No. 413,799 Claims.(01.1984) One of the objects of this invention is to provide a loadingmachine of this type, particularly a mine loading machine which mayoperate under a great variety of conditions encountered in miningoperations.

Another object is to provide a mine loading machine, which may be usedin low veins, providing a minimum of head room and which may operateefiectively to gather the coal which has been shot down and load it ontomine cars.

Another object is to provide such a machine which may operateeiiectively both in low veins and in veins of normal height and whichmay be adjusted to operate effectively at any elevation so as to beadaptable most effectively to the head room available.

Another object is to provide such a machine in which a single conveyortransfers the material from the gathering point clear to the point ofdelivery.

Another object is to provide such a machine having such a singlecontinuous conveyor in which the conveyor is flexible, horizontally andvertically, both at its forward gathering portion and at its reardelivery portion.

Another object is to provide an improved structure for such a flexiblemachine for swinging the swiveled portions.

Further objects will appear from the following description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a mining machine embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken about on line 33 ofFigure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal section taken about on line l4 ofFigure 2, and

Figure 5 is a detail showing the joint construction for the horizontaland vertical swinging movements of the gathering boom.

In accordance with this invention, a loading machine is provided havinga traveling carriage provided at its front end with a flexible gatheringboom, arranged for both horizontal and vertical swinging movement on thecarriage, and at its rear end a similarly swingable loading boom bywhich the material may be delivered to mine cars or other receivingunits.

Referring to the drawings, I designates the traveling carriage which, inthe embodiment illustrated, is arranged to travel on caterpillar treads,indicated at '2. The forward end of the carriage I has a forwardlyextending bracket 3 provided with an arcuate rail 4 upon which a seriesof rollers 5 may run. These rollers support the gathering boom, as willbe described later, and permit lateral swing by said boom by rolling onthe rail 4. Swiveled in the bracket 3 is a structure including a lowerswivel bracket 6, an upper swivel bracket I, and an end bracket 8 whichconnects the brackets 6 and I together. The lower bracket 6 is swiveledon a lower pivot member 9, while the upper bracket 1 is similarlyswiveled on an upper pivot member l0, both said pivot members beingsecured in the bracket 3 as is shown in Figure 3. This structure,including the brackets 6, I, and 8, provides a lateral swingablestructure which carries the gathering boom. This structure also carriesa train of horizontal gears II, by means of which power is transmittedfrom a motor on the carriage I to gathering mechanism on the gatheringarm. As this mechanism is not a part of the present invention, it is notdescribed in detafl.

The bracket 1 has an upward and forward extension II which carries atits upper portion a horizontal hinge bearing l3. Hinged in the bearingI3 is a forwardly extending boom ,providing a gathering boom andcarrying at its forward end gathering mechanism, indicated generally atl5. This gathering mechanism may be of any suitable type, well known inthe art and is not described in detail herein. It will be seen that theboom I4 may swing vertically on the hinge l3 and horizontally on theswivel formed by the members 9 and Ill.

The boom H has a channel form, providing a runway for a singlecontinuous conveyor l6 which extends continuously from the gatheringmechanism [5 clear to the rear end of the loading boom. An intermediatesection of the conveyor I6 passes over the carriage I along a channelstructure, indicated generally at II. This intermediate section is alsoarranged with a swivel on the same axis as the gathering boom and tohinge vertically on the hinge l3.

For this purpose a short channel section 18 is hinged at its forward endon the hinge l3 and terminates at its rear end in an arcuate edge It. Itwill be noted that both the channel section I! and the short section IIhave a double channel construction, providing a lower floor plate 2|!and an upper floor plate 2|. The plate 2| carries the upper run of theconveyor l6, while the lower plate carries the lower or return run ofthat conveyor. Both these plates on the section l8 terminate in arcuateedges l9, engaging matching concave edges on the corresponding plates ofthe section II. The section I8 is equipped on its underside with aswivel bracket 22 carrying a swivel pin 23. The section also carries onits underside a complementary swivel bracket 24 equipped with a bearing25 for the pin 23. This pin therefore connects the sections l1 and I8 sothat they may swivel laterally to permit the side swing of the boom l4.At the same time the entire structure, including sections l1 and I8, ishinged at l3 so as to be able to swing vertically, as indicated inbroken lines in Figure 3. The section II is equipped with downwardlyextending guides 26, engaging the side plates of a the carriage I so asto maintain the section II in alignment with the carriage during suchvertical movement.

At the rear end of the section H a loading boom 21 is mounted for bothlateral and vertical swinging movement on the section H, in the samemanner as described for the connections between the section H and thegathering boom H. The boom 21 is similar in construction to the sectionII, and the conveyor 13 is arranged to travel along the boom 21 to itsrear end.

In order to move the gathering boom vertically and horizontally on thehinge I3 and the swivel 9 and I0 and to control such movement accurate-'ly, a fluid pressure system is provided and fluid pressure jacks aremounted so as to accomplish these movements. The fluid pressure systemmay be of any suitable type. A hydraulic system is contemplated in theembodiment illustrated, using oil as a circulating medium, suitable oilpump equipment, not shown, being mounted on the carriage I and operatedby suitable power devices.

In order to raise and lower the boom H on the hinge l3, a pair ofhydraulic jacks 28, only one of which is seen in Figure 2, are connectedto the pressure system and controlled in any suitable well-known mannerso as to control the vertical swing of the gathering boom, as indicatedin broken lines in Figure 2.

In order to swing the boom laterally, the arrangement shown in Figure 4is provided. Pivoted at 29 on a side wing 30 of the bracket l2, on eachside of the boom H, is a jack 3|. These jacks are of the telescopictype, the outer member of which is in the form of a cylinder and theinner member a piston rod, indicated generally at 32, having a piston 33at its end within the cylinder, In accordance with this invention, thepiston rod is tubular in form, having an outer tube 34 and an inner tube35. The tube 34 is connected to the piston 33 and communicates by meansof ports 36 with the interior of the cylinder above the piston 33. Theinner tube passes through the piston 33 and is open at its end so as tocommunicate with the interior of the cylinder below the piston 33. Itwill be seen that these two tubes provide means for passing P iessurefluid into the cylinder on either side of the piston. The pressure fluidis conveyed to the jack from the pressure system of the machine,indicated generally at 31, by means of flexible tubes 38, As may be seenfrom Figure 4, the tubes 38 are so arranged that the outer tube 34 ofone of the jacks 3| is connected with the inner tube of the other jack,and this pair is connected to one side of the pressure system. In thesame manner the inner tube of the first jack is connected with the outertube of the second, and this pair is connected to the other side of thepressure system. Accordingly, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 4,when pressure is admitted to one side of the system and .exhausted fromthe other side by suitable valve arrangements, not shown, the fluidpressure is exerted upon the upper face of the piston 33 of one of thejacks and on the lower face of the piston of the other jack, while, atthe same time, the opposite face of each piston is open to the exhaust.By this arrangement, one of these jacks exerts a thrust while the otherexerts a pull. The rods 32 are pivoted at 39 to the bracket 3 on thecarriage. It will be seen, therefore, that by exerting a thrust on oneof these jacks and a pull on the other, the bracket i2, and thereforethe gathering boom It, will be swung horizontally on the swivel at 9 andHi.

It will be noted that the pivots 29 for the outer members or cylindersof the jacks 3| are placed at the open end of the cylinder, that is, theend from which the piston rod emerges. Accordingly, the pivots 29 and 39are located at the adjacent ends of the inner and outer telescopicmembers of the jack. It will be noted, also, that the pivots 39 areplaced as close as possible to the swivel 9 and somewhat behind thecenter-line of that swivel. Also, the pivots 29 are laterally outside ofthe pivots 39. These arrangements are of particular importance in amachine of this type which must operate in a cramped space. The relativelocation of the pivots 29 and 39 positions the jacks 3| to extendoutwardly at an angle to the axis of the gathering boom. -In thisposition the placing of the pivots 39 in rear of the axis of the swivel9 provides for a maximum turning moment for the force exerted by thejacks for turning the boom M on the swivel 3. It will be noted, further,that as this turning movement progresses, one of the jacks swings so asto increase its angle with respect to the centerline of the boom ll,while the other Jack moves in the opposite direction so as to decreasethat angle somewhat. The arrangement is such, however, that the decreasein angle of the second jack is never such as to pass the position ofparallel relation between the jack and the boom. This is a greatadvantage because it leaves the space between the jacks 3| unobstructedat all times, while permitting free movement of the jacks, so that thereis no interference between them and the jacks 28, which are located atthe same level and between the jacks 3|.

At the rear end of the machine the structure of the swivel Joint,between the loading boom 21 and the section II, is similar to thatdescribed for the joint between the. section I8 and the section At thisend a pair of jacks 40 provides for swinging the boom laterally, and apair of jacks 4| provides for swinging the same vertically. Another jack45, supported on the carriage operates to raise and lower the rear endof the section II, causing the si me to swing on the hinge I3.

A suitable source of power, such as a motor, not shown, is mounted onthe carriage and connected to drive the tractor treads 2, the conveyorI6, and the oil pump mentioned above for the fluid-pressure system. Thelatter systemis connected to supply pressure fluid to the various jacksand suitable control valves, included in the system, are mounted on thecarriage at a convenient location for the operator. These details arenot illustrated nor described as they may be arranged in any suitablemanner.

It will be seen that this invention provides a loading machine whichcomprises in eflect a single conveyor having gathering means at one endand arrangements for depositing its load at the other end, the ame beingcarried by a traveling carriage so that it may be moved by its own powerto any desired location. The structure is greatly simplified as thematerial is not passed from one conveyor to another, but is handled in asingle run from the gathering point to the loading point. The conveyor,while mounted on and controlled as to its general direction and positionby the traveling carriage, is flexible at each end in both directions.Accordingly, the machine may be presented to a pile of material in anydesired manner, and may be positioned and adjusted so that its loadingboom may be passed over a mine car or other receiving device so that thematerial may be deposited therein. The arrangement whereby theintermediate section is hinged at its front end and carries a flexibleloading boom at its rear end is particularly useful where the head roomis limited, or where projections or other obstacles in the ceiling ofthe mine entry may tend to obstruct the movement of material on theconveyor. In such cases the intermediate section may be adjusted to thedesired level and the loading boom may be adjusted to any other angularposition. It will be noted that by elevating the intermediate section,the front end of the loading boom can be positioned to any'elevationwhile the rear end can be adjusted to any other desired elevation. Inthis way by manipulating the carriage and the two flexible ends of theconveyor, the machine can be adjusted to operate in almost anysituation.

While the invention has been described above as embodied in a unitarystructure, it will be understood that individual features orsubcombinations thereof may be useful by themselves without reference toother features or the complete combination, and the employment of suchindividual features or subcombinations is contemplated by this inventionwhen within the scope of the appended claims.

It is further obvious that various changes may be made in the details ofconstruction or operation, .within the scope of the appended claims,without departing from the spirit of this invention, and that theinvention is not limited to the specific details shown or described.

The invention having thus been described, what is claimed is:

l. A loading machine of the character described, comprising, a travelingcarriage, a gathering boom on the front of said carriage, gatheringmechanism at the end of said boom, a single continuous conveyor on saidcarriage and said boom arranged to receive material from said gatheringmechanism, said conveyor having a section hinged to the forward part ofsaid carriage for vertical swinging movement and a rear section mountedfor vertical and horizontal swinging movements at the rear end of saidflrst section, and power-driven means for swinging said conveyorsections.

2. A loading machine of the character described, comprising, a dirigibletraveling carriage, a single continuous conveyor on said carriage havingan intermediate section mounted for vertical swinging movement on saidcarriage, a forward section swiveled for lateral swinging movement and arear section wiveled for lateral swinging movement relative to saidintermediate section, gathering means at the front end of said1iliorward section, and means for swinging said secons.

3. A loading machine of the character described, comprising, a travelingcarriage, a single continuous conveyor on said carriage having anintermediate section mounted for vertical swinging movement on saidcarriage, a forward ection swiveled for lateral and vertical movementsand a rear section swiveled for lateral and vertical swinging movementsrelative to said intermediate section, gathering means at the front endof said forward section, and power-driven means for swinging saidsections.

4. A loading machine of the character described, comprising, a travelingcarriage, a swingable boom on said carriage, a conveyor extending alongsaid boom, swivel means for mounting said boom on said carriage forlateral swinging movement, a pair of jacks symmetrically positioned atopposite sides of said boom, said jacks having pivotal connections tosaid carriage beyond the swivel axis of said mounting and to said boomat points laterally outside of said first connections, whereby one orsaid jacks acts at increasing leverage during the swing of the boom whenthe other acts at decreasingleverage, and means for energizing saidjacks simultaneously in opposite directions.

5. In a loading machine of the character described having a travelingcarriage, a gathering boom on the front of said carriage, swivel meansfor mounting said boom fo lateral swinging movement, a pair oftelescopic jacks having inner and outer relatively movable members, saidjacks being symmetrically positioned with respect to said boom and saidrelatively movable members of each jack having pivotal connections attheir adjacent ends with said carriage and said boom respectively, saidconnections being located so as to position said jacks to extenddivergently at increasing leverage during the swing of the boom when theother acts at decreasing leverage,

and means for elevating said boom positioned between said jacks.

6. In a loading machine of the character described having a travelingcarriage, a gathering boom on the front of said carriage, swivel meansfor mounting said boom for lateral swinging movement, a pair oftelescopic jacks having relatively movable external and internalmembers, said jacks being symmetrically positioned with respect tosaidboom and said relatively movable members of each jack having pivotalconnections at their adjacent ends with said carriage and said boomrespectively, said connections of said external members being laterallyoutside of said connections of said internal members, and means forenergizing said jacks simultaneously in opposite directions in order toswing said boom.

7. A loading machine of the character described, comprising, a travelingcarriage, a laterally swingable gatherin boom on the front of saidcarriage, a laterally swingable loading boom on the rear of saidcarriage, and a single continuous conveyor arranged to travel from thefront of said gathering boom to the rear of said loading boom, saidconveyor having an intermediate section traveling along andsubstantially parallel to said carriage, said intermediate section beinghinged at its forward portion for elevating its rear end and havingguiding means to maintain it in said parallel relation to said carriage.

8. A loading machine of the character described. comprising, a travelingcarriage, a swingable boom on said carriage, a conveyor extending alongsaid boom and over said carriage, swivel means for mounting said boom onsaid carriage for lateral swinging movement. pivotal means spaced fromsaid swivel means for mounting said boom for vertical swinging movementon said carriage, andseparate swivel means for said conveyor to enablethe forward part of the same to swing laterally with said boom.

9. A loading machine of the character described, comprising, a travelingcarriage, 9. laterally swingable boom on said carriage, a conveyorextending along said boom and over said carriage, swivel means formounting said boom on said carriage for lateral swinging movement,

' pivotal means spaced from said swivel means for mounting said boom forvertical swinging movement on said carriage, means for mounting'theportion 01' said conveyor extending over said carriage for verticalmovement at its rear end, and guide means cooperating with said carriageto maintain alignment of said conveyor therewith.

10. A loading machine of the character described, comprising, a carriagemounted for travel on caterpillar treads in order to direct and positionthe same, a single continuous conveyor on said carriage having anintermediate section mounted for vertical elevation at its rear end, a

,forward section flexibly mounted for lateral and vertical swingingmovement and a rear section flexibly mounted on said rear end forlateral and vertical swinging movement, gathering means on said frontsection, and power-driven means for raising said intermediate sectionand for swin ing said front and rear sections.

JOHN L. CLARKSON. ALLTON B. JACKSON.

